Customer Ratings & Reviews

Awesome security system. Very reliable and always notifies of any activity.

The Tapo x3 Solar Security Camera kit is a great starter kit for those looking for a quick and easy solution for your basic security needs. With a wireless set up no need to spend time running wires. Magnetic mounts for hassle free installation or when needing to quickly remove the camera to charge or change the micro SD card, or mount them directly for a more secure mount. Quick glance at the features: • 45 mins of sunlight is enough charge to keep the camera powered all day. ○ Built-in batteries (10,000mAh) can provide enough juice for the camera for up to 300 days without needing a recharge. • Excellent night vision quality aided by the built-in spotlights along with a Starlight sensor and infrared for brighter detailed images at night. • 2K QHD (2560 by 1440) recording resolution at 25fps. • 150 Diagonal FOV • Smart AI features to identify people, pets, and vehicles. Thus resulting in fewer false alarms and unnecessary notifications. • IP66 Weatherproof provides protections from the outdoor elements like heavy rain showers and dust. • Local and Cloud storage options are available. You don't have to pay for subscription-based cloud storage. It supports up to 512 GB micro SD card. • No Hub is required to connect directly to your Wi-Fi. • 2-way audio communication with the built-in speaker. The Tapo works well compared to other apps I’ve used before, where it would lag whenever I tried to view the live feed or access the cameras. You can take a snapshot from the app, record a live view, listen in, and start a voice call. If someone approaches your property, you can talk to them over the camera to identify themselves or thwart thieves snooping around. Another feature I like is the ability to set an alarm that goes off based on detected motion. There’s a privacy mode that pretty much turns off the camera. Spotlights can also be turned on or off via the app. There are so many options available that I highly recommend reviewing them to take advantage of everything the camera offers. Overall, as I mentioned, this starter kit provides excellent image quality at a reasonable price. Solar power is a great solution for areas that don’t have easy access to a power source. It also has excellent features that are not locked behind a subscription paywall, like Smart AI for face or vehicle detections and local storage. It’s compatible with established smart home platforms like Google Home and Alexa.

Works great. No issues connecting to cameras. I like that they are wireless so I can stick one anywhere.

Does the job. Good daylight video as long as the sun isnt too directly shining at it

Cameras are okay. Resolution is fine but have to reboot them about once a week for some reason. And maybe I missed the description but I thought these could record 24/7 but they can't, only the wired cameras can. The solar works well even if it faces North (and barely gets son).

These are not bad but also not the greatest 2k cameras out there. If you're looking for better quality, then you'd be better off with the ones that you need to subscribe to. But they get the job done, I wish there was a feature where you can delete local storage videos.

I bought it November 2024, and July 2025 one of the cameras quit charging. I got in contact with the company and had problems until I contacted BBB. Within that time, another camera quit charging. The problem is the solar panels after continuous rain. The company finally gave me a RMA and paid shipping to the company and as soon as they receive it, they will send me another Complete kit. So I had to get everything off of the roof, pack it in a box and send it in to Fed Ex, it's going to California, so it's gonna take several days just to get there. I asked just for a solar panel, but they said no. The only way they could replace anything is the whole kit. I do expect the same problems after I receive the replacement.

I bought these cameras October 2024 today is February 2025 1 of my cameras has already stop working they are great cameras I just wish they last longer

You dont need to be a rocket scientist to set this system up

It does all its expected to do Works fantastic !

This is probably one of the best solutions currently out in the market, even better than big name brands out there. I know that is a huge claim, but having experience with other bigger brands, I will explain why this Tapo outdoor camera is a much better option. Design The camera is very well-built, as well as the panels. They do not look flimsy at all and has pretty good quality materials. There is ample weather proofing on connections and the brackets and hardware are all good quality that I know can last if I leave it out in the summer sun, or the rainy days. Installation Hardware Installation is easy. Out-of-the-box I have everything I need. Of course I wish the camera itself had a USB-C charging vs. a micro USB, but the cable from USB-C to micro-USB is included. The hardware is easy to understand as well. One set comes with a bracket that can be installed directly onto a wall-- in my case, the wooden panel below the roof. The bracket has the combined mounting for both the camera and the solar panel, which makes it look neat. You can also not opt for the combined bracket as the camera can be placed separately using a metallic magnetic surface mount. For two out of three of my installations, I separated the solar panel from the camera itself so the camera is in a corner while the long provided cable stretched out the solar panels onto where it gets the most sun all day. All hardware is included to mount it perfectly. Software set up is easy. It performed a quick firmware update, as soon as I was able to add my cameras. And adding cameras were a breeze too—I did not experience any failures or redos in adding cameras. Setting up was very helpful as well because the app guided me through each step. Sometimes the app instructions were a little overboard for me, in terms of the step-by-step install and setup, only because it details what to do. It is helpful for average Joes—can be cumbersome for advanced installers like me. Performance and Features The video quality is VERY CLEAR. These are not even 4K cameras, but the 2K QHD is very clear. Especially with video captures, I am very particular with the details because it is important that I capture the faces when you need to know who they are. The app has so many customizations that you do not find in other big brand security systems: 1) There is an option to put zones and you can also have the system indicate if it is an animal, or a car, or a person or a package—but the best part is, you can SPECIFY which zone should only capture what. So I can create a zone for an area and it only detects for people and avoid the squirrels passing on my corner screen where these animals pass through. In one camera, you can customize what area only detects what—pretty outstanding for me. 2) It also indicates what it is detecting at that specific time—for example, in my video captures, it shows that it is a person being captured and it places a box around that object in motion. 3) it picks up anything in storage pretty fast. Other cameras I had takes a while before it loads the data it captured. 4) The integration with the mobile phone is great. You can capture items directly into your phone for easy reference or sharing. Microphone and call action is great. Audio is clear and very responsive. I used to not use this option on my other cameras when I have to call the kids back in from the patio, because I know it drains the battery faster. But since this has a solar panel that charges the battery continuously, I do not worry about checking the cameras more often, and even using the other great features this camera has. That brings me to comment on battery life performance which I am happy about. It has been 2 cloudy days and one day of sun, and the battery of my least exposed camera is at 94%, while the rest are on 99%. I do not need to keep scheduling recharging my wireless cameras! Super worry-free! Connectivity and Subscriptions One of the other things I like about it is, a Tapo Care Cloud storage is not mandatory and it is not in-your-face-you-need-to-get-one approach. Esepcially that is has the option for a micro SD card, the storage on the card is pretty fast and can be easily accessed. So activity recordings go into a loop and I get notifications on what’s happening anyway. So if there is something at a suspicious time, I can easily look at it and store it on my phone. It can also be integrated into Google Home. However, I cannot see it as a stream on my Home dashboard, nor can I use it to trigger device automations. But I can voice command it to show on a home display or one of the TVs with chromecast. The Tapo App though has its own automations and since I have a lot of other TP-Link compatible plugs / outlets, I was able to create my automations through the Tapo app (e.g. when a person is detected on hallway, to turn on the lights). This camera system has replaced my cameras that need to always be charged every 3 weeks. And I have killed my security subscriptions too, thanks to the local storage available. This is a product that reduces my stress, not only in a security perspective, but also in the maintenance I need to perform for my devices, thanks to the solar charging. I recommend this a lot!

A little motion sensitive but otherwise a good product

TP-Link's Tapo sub-brand (and it's Kasa predecessor) have been making solid DIY home automation and security devices for a number of years now and this 3 camera kit is a great addition to their lineup. It's really everything you need to monitor the outside of a small to medium sized property - with no hassle of wiring or building a special network. In the box you get 3 cameras, 3 solar panels and all the mounting kits, batteries, etc. that you need to get going. Each camera can be mounted on it's own (you can use them without the solar kits if you want, but you'll have to take them down to charge them about 2x a year or so depending on how much you use things like live view/motion detection) or either near or combined with the solar panels (the mounts allow for options - if you want to mount the camera in one place and the solar panel nearby but in a better position to catch sun, you can do that, or you can put the panel directly above the camera for a more streamlined setup). The mounts are solid and seem durable and the solar panels easily produce enough power to keep the batteries topped up (oddly, the solar panels have a USB-C output but the cameras take micro USB input, so the kit comes with USB-C female to microUSB male adapters in short or longer lengths - odd but effective). The cameras connect via wifi, so between the batteries/solar kit and wifi connection, you can put them anywhere you get a wifi signal. Pairing the camera to your network and adding it in the Tapo app is a breeze, but note that you'll likely want to do this BEFORE mounting the camera as it's easier when you have full physical access to the camera. You'll also want to full charge the cameras from a power outlet before mounting them, even if you're using the solar panels, just to give it some buffer charge. Once paired and in place, the cameras have a super sharp picture, day or night (with the built-in spot lights) - it's easy to check in on whatever you have the cameras watching. They do have a pretty wide field of view, which is nice, but they don't move on their own (I.e., they don't have motors inside to pan/tilt, they have to be moved manually), so consider that when placing them/during install. Using the app, you can set up motion detection, exclusion zones, notifications, people / pet / vehicle alerts and more - it's pretty straightforward to use and there are a lot of options. Given the solid build quality here and the attention to detail in waterproofing the connections, these cameras should last a good long time in use. They're a bit bigger than you would expect to accommodate the large batteries, but find the right place for them was still quick / easy. The cameras can also accommodate a micro SD card for onboard video recording if you like. So if you're in the market for a DIY home video monitoring system for the outside of your house and don't want to deal with running wiring or a complicated DVR, these Tapo cameras are a great option and should be on your list to check out. Give them a try today!

Slow customer support response from Tapo. Lost emails. If your devices are not functioning properly, good luck getting support from them. Cameras this expensive should have better support.

Didn't like. The SD cards would t format on all 3 cameras with 3 different SD cards on each camera. I tried everything possible it didn't matter what I did with each card the same the same error. No matter how I tried it.

Also posted a review for the non solar cameras, as I am running both, or should I say, I was running them. Stay away and save your time and money. Cannot do live view unless you are on the same WiFi network. How is this even a thing? I had blink cameras for years and regret the change, thinking I was going to be getting a better product. Nope. Go look up live feed- trust me it’s hard to chase down any answers, but it appears that Tapo removed this feature in a firmware update months ago.

This review is for a set of TP-Link Tapo wireless battery powered cameras with solar panel chargers. The cameras connect via WiFi and are paired/added using the TP-Link Tapo app. Note, if you have Kasa devices, you already have a valid TP-Link login. In fact, the Tapo app showed my smart outlets once I signed in. For initial setup, you'll charge each camera over USB. After doing that, pair by turning on the camera and waiting for it to enter pairing mode. Then let the app find it and walk you through adding it to the network and the app. The cameras come with installation hardware and to my relief, the solar panel can be located separately though nearby to the camera. This is nice for when you're better off placing the camera under a overhanging roof but as a result, the solar panel needs to be on the roof or overhang to actually get sun. The cameras are 2K so hands down will likely be have the highest quality video feed you've seen yet with a security camera. That plus the color night vision really stands out. The color night vision is even better with the spotlight feature. You can record video locally to a micro SD card installed in the camera or to the cloud or both. As usual, I'm always concerned about cloud features, particularly when they require the company or a third party to have working servers. For these, things are a bit mixed. You need the app and a TP link login for initial setup and configuration. But once that's done, you could theoretically use the cameras with just the SD card and manually retrieve the cards periodically to review footage. So some use without needing go outside your home network, but you pretty much lose just about every advantage of having a “smart” camera. Accessible functionality with just the account is camera configuration, two way audio (they have mic and speakers), live feeds, and the ability to set activity and privacy zones. The former the camera uses to trigger notifications and the latter to ignore. The notifications are a mixed bag. With premium, you get a still of what triggered the notification and are able to rewind and watch video on the app requires premium. Without, hopefully the feed will show you whats going on. You do get a free month to try things out. But even though it seems all the processing is happening locally, because you need to be signed in, functionality depends on the continued operation of TP-link authentication servers. Overall, the pros are the 2K video resolution, color night vision, two way audio, being able to record locally, and getting notifications on the free tier. Setup is also pretty straightforward so if you need to move things around, that's not an issue. I really like that the solar panel can fully charge what's a pretty decent capacity battery with 45 minutes of optimistic direct sunlight but that means even on cloudy winter weeks, unless there's snow that completely blankets the panels for days at a time, I don't have to worry about recharging the cameras which means these can be placed with zero concerns about how you're going to do an end run of wiring to a DVR or just power. As someone who has needed to carry out this task multiple times, this benefit is not to be underestimated.

**Installation: 4/5** The installation process of the Tapo cameras was straightforward, with both anchors and screws provided for different mounting preferences. While using screws alone sufficed for my setup, I initially struggled with aligning the solar panels and cameras. It wasn't apparent that they could be mounted separately for better flexibility. Although this allows for optimal positioning, it does leave the larger mount visible, which some may find unsightly. The app's connection process could be more intuitive; manual connection to each camera's Wi-Fi was necessary before adding them in the app, which I discovered through trial and error. **Camera Quality: 5/5** The 2K resolution of the cameras delivers exceptional clarity, both during the day and at night. The night-time infrared is impressively strong, and the spotlight feature ensures vivid color capture after dark. However, to avoid reflections from my home's siding, I had to adjust the cameras to an angle that might give my neighbors the impression of surveillance. **Solar Panels: 4.5/5** The solar panels perform admirably, maintaining a full charge on all cameras without direct southern exposure. They effectively harness sunlight during early and late hours, as well as throughout the day, ensuring continuous power without the need for additional charging. **App Integration: 4.5/5** The Tapo app is a welcome addition, with swift loading times and easy access to camera controls. Initially, I was concerned about managing another smart home app, but the seamless integration of my existing Kasa devices into the Tapo app was a pleasant surprise, reflecting TP-Link's thoughtful design. **Overall Experience: 4/5** My overall satisfaction with the Tapo camera system is high, with the quality and functionality meeting my expectations. However, the lack of swappable batteries is a significant drawback. In scenarios where solar charging isn't sufficient, the need to remove, charge, and remount the cameras is inconvenient and time-consuming. A swappable battery feature would greatly enhance the efficiency and user-friendliness of this system. **Recommendation:** Despite the minor setbacks, I highly recommend the Tapo 3-pack 2K Indoor/Outdoor Cameras for their superior quality and reliable solar panels. If you're looking for a smart surveillance solution that minimizes maintenance, this system is a strong contender—just be mindful of the charging limitations if your location lacks adequate sunlight.

I recently received the Tapo 3-pack 2K Indoor/Outdoor Cameras with 3 Solar Panels and have been extremely impressed with this kit. This product, with its high-quality build, has exceeded my expectations in every way, instilling confidence in its durability and performance. Out of the box, every piece of the kit feels well-crafted with a durable and solid feel. The kit boasts an industry-leading IP66 weatherproof rating, ensuring that both the camera and solar panels can withstand rain, dust, snow, and harsh sun, making them incredibly durable in any environment. I will add that where I am in central Texas, we do get a good hailstorm from time to time, so we will see how durable they are in the future. The Installation process was a breeze. The step-by-step within the app instructions guided me to a professional-looking installation of each camera and solar kit. I am not a very handyperson and was worried when one of the zones I wanted to set up monitoring was primarily blocked by trees. The flexibility offered by the 13-foot-long cable was a lifesaver and allowed me to place the camera where I wanted with the solar panel offset. The setup said that each camera needed to be pre-charged for about five hours. Then, the app had a firmware update for the cameras that took about another ten minutes per camera. I was able to name the cameras for an easy location reference. The app is user friendly, and I would feel confident in saying that if you can send an email on your phone, then you can navigate the app. A quick tip: I am not a fan of subscription-only products. My kit came with a free thirty-day trial with a month-to-month plan afterward. The plan's cost ranged from $3.49 to $11.99 monthly or $34.99 to $119.99 annually, depending on the number of cameras on the system. If you, too, are not a fan of subscriptions, make sure you grab three SD cards when you purchase if you plan not to use the subscription-based service. I understand that the subscription plan builds passive revenues for the company, which they tend to use to develop new and better products. So I admire Tapo for caring and taking into consideration the wants and needs of their consumer market. Aside from that, once installed, I was able to see the trickle charge from the solar panels keep the massive 10,000mAh batteries well charged even in my higher activity zone. The performance and features packed away in these little devices are simply stunning. The images are crystal clear, with 1.7x more pixels than 1080p, and the 150-degree field of view covers a wide area, ensuring nothing goes unnoticed. The full-color night vision with a spotlight and a starlight sensor is particularly impressive, providing clear-ish images even in low-light conditions. I know we have all seen the footage of someone doing something probably wrong, but you cannot make out any facial features. These cameras during the day are quite picturesque, but at night, the view is grainier and more saturated. The smart AI technology is able to distinguish between people, pets, and vehicles. This means the camera in my backyard is not constantly sending me notifications that my furry friends are up to shenanigans. Going further, you are able to customize detection zones to help reduce the number of unnecessary notifications as well. The cameras do offer two-way audio which can be used to communicate with guests or delivery couriers in real time. The real-time aspect is based on network connectivity capabilities. But the coolest feature is the sound and light alarm deterrent. I like to use this on my son when he comes home past curfew. In conclusion, I am overall quite satisfied with the Tapo TC85 2K camera and solar panel kit. It provides unparalleled security, convenience, and peace of mind. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high-quality, dependable, and easy-to-install security camera system.

Having a reliable security system in place offers peace of mind, but the cost and complexity of installation can often be deterrents. The TP-Link Tapo TC85 offers a compelling alternative, having great user-friendliness and affordability without sacrificing essential features. Seamless Setup: The Tapo app guides you through the installation process, making setting up the TC85 cameras a breeze. Unlike wired systems, the TC85 boasts a completely wire-free design, granting maximum flexibility in placement. The included magnetic mounts allow for quick and versatile installation indoors or outdoors. Clear View, Day or Night: Despite its attractive price point, the TC85 delivers crisp 2K video quality. This ensures clear and detailed footage, even in low-light conditions thanks to the integrated night vision capabilities. The TC85 also boasts impressive AI features, effectively distinguishing between people, pets, and vehicles. This significantly reduces irrelevant notifications and ensures you're only alerted to genuine security concerns. Two-way audio allows for remote communication, adding a layer of interactivity with visitors or potential intruders. A Few Considerations: While the TC85 excels in ease of use and affordability, there are a couple of limitations to consider. The system lacks free cloud storage for video recordings. For remote storage, you'll need to invest in SD cards or subscribe to Tapo's cloud service. Additionally, the reliance on micro-USB for charging feels slightly outdated compared to the more ubiquitous USB-C standard. The inclusion of a single charging cable extends the initial charging time unless you have spares available. The Verdict: The TP-Link Tapo TC85 is a well-rounded security camera system for users prioritizing ease of use and value. The impressive video quality, streamlined setup process, and integrated features make it a strong contender in the budget security camera market